Fatima holds off Linn for Class 3 District 9 title

CUBA, Mo. - The Linn Wildcats had the tying run on base, but Josef Keilholz made sure the runner stayed put.

The Wildcats lined out to end the game, sealing a 4-2 win for the Fatima Comets in the Class 3 District 9 championship game.

It's the first district title for the Comets since 2015, when they won the state championship.

Linn didn't get on the scoreboard until Parker Patterson doubled in a pair of runs to cut the deficit in half in the seventh.

Keilholz went all seven innings on the mound, striking out four while allowing three hits.

Fatima, the No. 1 seed, led 2-0 after the first inning.

Jake Boyce, who singled, scored on Austin Wegman's sacrifice fly. Keilholz also singled and scored on Gage Cunningham's single to center field.

Trey Herzing made it a 3-0 game in the third with a sacrifice fly, scoring Keilholz.

The Comets added a run in the fourth when Gage Bax singled in Wyatt Luebbert.

Alex Grellner took the loss for Linn, the No. 3 seed, allowing four runs on eight hits with two strikeouts.

Bax and Keilholz led Fatima's offensive attack with two hits each.

Linn finishes the season with a record of 13-9.

Fatima (12-14) will host Houston on Monday in sectionals.

Houston, the No. 2 seed in District 10, defeated No. 4 seed Mountain Grove 15-5 on Wednesday to advance.